Jewish, female, and unmarried? Guess what, you’re not alone! In the non-Orthodox community, there are record numbers, especially for those in their 30’s and 40’s, according to a new article in The Forward.

While most women are delaying marriage so they can pursue an education/career and plan to marry later in life, it’s not always possible to find the right match when you’re finally ready to settle down. A smaller, but still sizeable, group has no interested in tradition, and are single by choice.

I think there’s nothing wrong with staying single and I applaud this article for encouraging society to stop defining folks by their relationship status. Marriage and family life can be wonderful for those who desire it, but it shouldn’t be assumed or forced on those who have other interests. If a woman chooses a career over a child, that doesn’t make her weird or crazy. It just makes her unique!